Tiller arm for outboard motors and steering group of outboard motor having such tiller arm

ABSTRACT

A tiller arm for outboard motors includes a first portion adapted to be coupled to the outboard motor and a second portion adapted to be coupled to a command terminal. The first and the second portions of the tiller arm are telescopically engageable to one another, and a blocking system between the first and second portions is configured to block a mutual sliding at predetermined positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tiller arm for an outboard motor and a steering unit for the motor provided with such tiller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such mechanical members are often are identified with the technical term “tiller arm,” which is widely used in the art.

It is known from the prior art that the outboard motor is fastened in different ways to the vessel hull, maintaining the possibility of pivoting at least about a substantially vertical axis (with reference to an operating condition) to determine the orientation of the motor with respect to a longitudinal fore-and-aft axis of the vessel and, ultimately, to steer the vessel. In more advanced solutions (which are more widespread), the motor can also rotate about a horizontal axis, to enable raising the propeller when required. To this end the motor is mounted on a fastening support that comprises such joints, which is not a specific subject matter of the invention and, therefore, it is not described in detail herein.

A steering unit is fastened to the motor, and comprises a tiller arm extending from the motor toward the vessel and bearing a control end; the control end usually comprises a throttle control and a shift control.

The former is operatively connected to the throttle valve of the motor, to change the number of revolutions of the motor, while the latter is operatively connected to a member shifting the direction of rotation of the motor propeller, such to cause the forward or backward movement of the vessel.

The operating connection of the throttle control and the shift control with the motor is obtained, according to prior art, in several ways: a completely mechanical solution is possible, providing rigid tie rods (e.g. bars) or flexible cables (e.g. Bowden cables or the like) or an electronic solution, that provides data cables control units and actuators (e.g. solution with can-bus or the like).

A drawback of solutions of conventional steering unit and tiller arm is related to the fact that the user, sitting at the vessel stern, has to be able to adjust the tiller arm such to take a comfortable and safe driving position, while having the full control of the vessel.

It results the need of having a position-adjustable tiller arm that can be arranged depending on the vessel or on user preferences.

However such need clashes with some types of connection between the control end and the motor: as regards the electronic solution it is relatively simple to locate the control end in different ways with respect to the motor to allow the user to carry out a comfortable and safe operation, this is not valid for completely mechanical solutions (rigid tie rods or cables), for which it is quite complicated to locate the tiller arm with respect to the motor.

Moreover one has to think that the steering action applied by the user on the tiller arm is relatively high, especially in case of sudden maneuvers, high speed or rough sea.

A further need results therefrom, that is to provide an adjustable tiller arm contemporaneously allowing a firm and strong connection with the motor to be maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the invention is solving the above drawbacks of known solutions, by providing a tiller arm and a steering unit comprising said tiller arm that are adjustable and able to offer to the user a relatively high level of customization as regards the position together with a high strength.

Another object of the invention is providing such a tiller arm and a steering unit relatively inexpensive to produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tiller arm and steering unit that are relatively simple to install and adjust.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tiller arm and steering unit as a valid alternative to known solutions.

The present invention relates to a tiller arm for outboard motors comprising a first portion joinable to the outboard motor, a second portion joinable to a control end, wherein the first and second portions of the tiller arm are telescopically engageable with each other, there being provided mutual locking means for said first and said second portions for locking the sliding of the telescopic connection at predetermined positions.

According to a more general first embodiment, the first and second portions of the tiller arm are continuously slidable and are lockable in any relative positions.

This can be achieved with locking means such as a brake, an adjustable clutch or the like that are operable by a driving member provided on the control end of the tiller arm. The operation of such member causes the two parts to be released from each other while the release thereof causes the two parts to be locked with each other.

As an alternative, the two parts can be telescopically coupled one inside the other one for example by means of two tubular elements inserted inside each other, there being provided a ring tightening the outermost tubular element on the innermost one which is clampable or enlargeable by screw means or the like.

A variant embodiment provides, as an alternative, the first and second portions of the tiller arm to be telescopically slidable with respect to each other and lockable in predetermined discrete relative positions.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, also independent from the other features, the locking means comprise:

a plurality of first and second holes made as through holes on said first and said second portions respectively;

a locking shaft engageable with and removable from said first and said second holes.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, said plurality of first or second holes comprises through holes passing into said first and said second portions respectively, extending horizontally with reference to an operating condition of the tiller arm.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, the tiller arm comprises extensions of operating connections intended to interface with and couple with the motor and with the control end.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, the extensions of operating connections comprise rigid tie rod extensions provided with means coupling to rigid tie rods of the motor or of the control end, said rigid tie rod extensions preferably comprising a portion of telescopic rod.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, the extensions of operating connections comprise flexible cable extensions provided with means coupling to flexible cables of the motor or of the control end.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, the extensions of operating connections comprise data cable extensions provided with means coupling to data cables of the motor or of the control end.

According to an optional and advantageous feature, said first and said second portion define an inner hollow seat housing said data cable extensions.

The invention further relates to a steering unit for an outboard motor comprising such a tiller arm.

Thus it is possible to solve the above drawbacks of known solutions, by providing a tiller arm and a steering unit comprising said tiller arm that are adjustable and able to offer to the user a relatively high customization level as regards position, together with a high strength.

Moreover, the tiller arm according to the invention and likewise the steering unit comprising such tiller arm, is relatively cheap to be made.

Moreover, the tiller arm according to the invention and likewise the steering unit comprising such tiller arm, is relatively simple to be installed and adjusted, also for replacing previously installed tiller arms.

Finally, the tiller arm according to the invention and likewise the steering unit comprising such tiller arm, are valid alternatives to known solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is outboard motor and steering unit assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the previous figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment, by way of example and not of limitation, of a steering unit 10 comprising a tiller arm 1 according to the invention.

The tiller arm 1 comprises a first portion 3 joinable to the outboard motor 2 and a second portion 4 joinable to a control end 5.

The connection between the first portion 3 and the second portion 4 to the outboard motor 2 and to the control end 5 respectively can be carried out in many ways, for example by mechanical connections and/or joints, depending on specific requirements.

The control end 5 comprises, in this embodiment, a throttle handle 51 and a shift control 52, which in the example is of lever type; however, in a completely equivalent manner, other solutions may be provided.

The control end 5 is preferably shaped like a box body which become coupled, for example by engaging, to the second portion 4 of the tiller arm 1.

With reference again to the latter, the first 3 and the second 4 portion of the tiller arm 1 are telescopically fittable within each other.

Preferably, the second portion 4 has an inner cavity in which the first portion 3 is received and slides; the increase in the section of the second portion, among other things, provides for a greater strong section to be provided just at the longer lever arm with respect to the fulcrum of rotation of the motor 2, such to increase on the whole the mechanical strength of the arm 1.

In order to lock the telescopic sliding at a desired length, there are provided mutual locking means 6 for said first 3 and said second portion 4 to lock the sliding of the telescopic connection.

Such means 6 are intended to lock the sliding at discrete and predetermined positions, preferably a plurality of positions, such to allow the user to adjust the length of the tiller in a simple and versatile manner at the same time.

In the described non-limiting embodiment, the locking means 6 comprise a plurality of first and second through holes 61, 62 obtained on said first 3 and said second portion 4 respectively of the tiller 1.

The locking means comprise a locking shaft 63 cooperating with the holes 61, 62.

The shaft 63 is engageable with and removable from said first and second holes 61, 62 such to lock the sliding of the telescopic portions 3 and 4; therefore, the adjustment is advantageously simplified, since—when the user wants to change the distance of the control end 5 from the motor 2—it is sufficient to remove the locking shaft 63, to move the telescopic portion 4 with respect to the telescopic portion 3, aligning the holes 61, 62, and then to insert again the shaft 63.

The latter can be locked in position when it is inserted in the holes by means of anti-removal safety elements.

Such elements can be made in various ways, and comprise, in one embodiment, an enlarged head at one end of the shaft 63 and a thread made on the opposite free end of the shaft, a nut or the like being screwable thereon; in another embodiment, on the contrary, there is provided at least one radial peg engaging at least at one end of the shaft and preventing removal of the shaft from the holes 61, 62; then, other anti-removal safety means can be provided such as adjustable keys or the like, all to be considered equivalent to those described up to now.

Basically, the holes 61, 62 can be arranged in various ways, but preferably, as in enclosed figures, the plurality of first or second holes 61, 62 comprises holes passing through the first portion 3 and second portion 4 respectively, extending horizontally, with reference to an operating condition of the tiller arm 1; this makes it possible to prevent removal the shaft 63 and having the shaft fall outside of the vessel even if, accidentally, the anti-removal safety means should fail.

The tiller 1 advantageously can be installed both on newly made arrangements and as a replacement of conventional already existing tiller arms (e.g. with fixed length).

In this regard, different embodiments are possible for the operating connection between control end 5 and motor 2.

If the operating connection is made by rigid tie rods (e.g. bars), the tiller arm 1 (or, likewise, the unit 10) comprises rigid tie rod extensions interfacing and coupling with the tie rods of the control end 5 and those of the motor 2. For that purpose, the tie rod extensions are provided with coupling means to the rigid tie rods of the motor 2 or of the unit 5. The rigid tie rod extensions are also preferably made with a portion of telescopic rod, such to allow the rigid tie rod extensions to follow the elongation/shortening of the telescopic connection of the tiller arm 1.

If the operating connection is made, on the contrary, by way of flexible cables, the steering unit 10 comprises flexible cable extensions interfacing and coupling with flexible cables of the control end 5 and those of the motor 2. In this case, in view of the different required length due to the telescopic connection, it is sufficient to choose a suitable length of the flexible cable extensions.

Finally, in case the operating connection is made by data cables (e.g. can-bus), the steering unit 10 comprises data cable extensions interfacing and coupling with data cables of the control end 5 and those of the motor 2. Also in this case, in view of the different required length due to the telescopic connection, it is sufficient to choose a suitable length of the data cable extensions.

In a preferred solution, the data cables or at least the data cable extensions are housed inside the telescopic connection, for example inside the first and second portions 3 and 4, which are then both provided with a hollow seat housing the data cables. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tiller arm (1) for an outboard motor (2) comprising: a first portion (3) adapted to be joined to the outboard motor (2); a second portion (4) adapted to be joined to a control end (5), wherein the first (3) and second (4) portions of the tiller arm (1) are telescopically fittable within each other; and a mutual locking system (6) for said first (3) and said second (4) portions is adapted to lock a sliding of the telescopic connection at predetermined relative positions.
 2. The tiller arm according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tiller portions (3, 4) are adapted to continuously slide and be locked in any relative position.
 3. The tiller arm according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tiller portions (3,4) are adapted to telescopically slide with respect to each other and to be locked in predetermined discrete relative positions.
 4. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 3, wherein the locking system (6) comprises: a plurality of first and second holes (61,62) configured as through holes on said first (3) and said second (4) portion respectively, and a locking shaft (63) engageable with and removable from said first and second holes (61,62).
 5. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of first or second holes (61,62) comprises holes passing through said first (3) and said second (4) portion respectively, extending horizontally, with reference to an operating condition of the tiller arm (1).
 6. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 1, further comprising extensions of operating connections adapted to interface and couple with the motor (2) and the control end (5).
 7. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 6, wherein the extensions of the operating connection comprise rigid tie rod extensions provided with coupling means to rigid tie rods of the motor (2) or of the control end (5), said rigid tie rod extensions preferably comprising a telescopic rod portion.
 8. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 6, wherein the operating connection extensions comprise flexible cable extensions provided with coupling means to flexible cables of the motor (2) or of the control end (5).
 9. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 6, wherein the operating connection extensions comprise data cable extensions provided with coupling means to data cables of the motor (2) or of the control end (5).
 10. The tiller arm (1) according to claim 9, wherein said first (3) and said second (4) portions define an inner hollow seat housing said data cable extensions.
 11. Steering unit (10) for an outboard motor (2) comprising: a control end (5) to control said outboard motor (2) and a tiller arm (1) according to claim
 1. 